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AD HOC OPEN-ENDED WORKING GROUPS

The CSD held two ad hoc open-ended working groups on financial flows and mechanisms and technology transfer and cooperation from 22 February - 2 March 1994. Although the two working groups succeeded in preparing lists of recommendations to be submitted to the CSD, these lists were not nearly as concrete and forward-looking as some delegates and observers had hoped. Some government-nominated experts complained that the discussions were not technical enough due to the large number of representatives from UN missions who participated in the meeting. NGOs commented that the discussions repeated much of the well-worn rhetoric from Rio and other intergovernmental fora. Delegates noted that smaller fora, such as the government- sponsored intersessional meetings, are often more productive than all- inclusive inter-governmental working groups. Most delegates agreed, however, that little progress was made towards resolving the North-South differences on these critical issues.